Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Although I have no difficulty meeting the company I do not consider it to be my job, or that of any other Member, to meet and tell a company how it should function. It is our job where State companies do not perform. Many State companies do not perform and I have been a big critic of our public service for a long period of time. As a consequence people in dire financial difficulties pay well above what they should in many areas, electricity being one and gas being another. These are necessary expenditures for people and we must hone in on them. I take the point made by the Minister of State that it will be an independent subsidiary. As I read it, and correct me if I am wrong, there will be only one voting share which will be held by Bord Gáis. I presume Bord Gáis will appoint directors who will exercise this controlling vote. Is it stipulated whether these directors will be executives of the company or people with external commercial and business experience? Who will be the chairman? They will have much influence on the company. I agree with Senator Mullins that the CEO of any company, private or public, has a huge influence on how companies are run which is why they are paid so well. I was surprised because I would have thought the manager of the city of Dublin which has a diversity of functions-----